GREAT IRISH DRIVES:At the heart of Wicklow is an area that cries out to be explored, with stellar views and prehistoric artefacts, writes
BEFORE LEAVING the area around Poulaphouca Reservoir - the subject of the last article in this series (Motors, April 1st) - one road on my map cried out to be explored.
This is the road from Lacken, which climbs into the heart of the Wicklow Mountains and curls around Sorrel Hill before winding its way back to the upper reaches of the reservoir.
Lacken is a pretty village, beautifully situated on the eastern shore of the reservoir. A fork in the road from Blessington Bridge to Valleymount as it runs through the village is the start of our route and climbs steeply up as it heads due east.
As it climbs, the road reveals the U-shaped Kilbeg valley and Black Hill (602m) to the south. There are numerous places to stop and admire the fine vistas that open up over the reservoir - towards Valleymount in particular - but it is the views to the southeast, towards Mullaghcleevaun (849m), East Top (795m), Duff Hill (729m), Gravale (718m) and Carrigvore (682m) that really excite the senses.
This is the heart of Wicklow and, on the day of our exploration, several of the hills still wore a mantle of winter snow. From our vantage point on the road around Sorrel Hill, the nearest slopes are wooded and gradually give way to a more barren mountain scape in the distance. Not for the first time, one marvels that such wilderness should be so close - and so accessible - to this island's most densely populated city.
For such an exposed mountain road, it's remarkable that it's in such good condition. By the time it turns northwards and runs alongside the Ballydonnell Brook - a tributary of the River Liffey - it has begun to enter a more sheltered landscape.
There's plenty to explore here, if you so desire, and the RTÉ mast on Kippure (757m) acts as a reference point, seemingly visible from everywhere along our route.
Travelling north and then east, the landscape changes quite quickly, becoming less exposed and more gentle, and we continue to bear left at the junctions at Ballysmullan and Oldcourt as we circumnavigate the base of Ballynatona (408m) and Woodend Hill (302m).
From Oldcourt, the road joins the northern edge of the reservoir and before long we reach Blessington Bridge.
This whole area is particularly rich in prehistoric remains and, if you've a mind to explore on foot, there are cairns atop Sorrel Hill, Lugnagun and Woodend Hill - where there are two. Close to the start of our journey there's a megalithic tomb to the north, on the slopes between Sorrel Hill and Lugnagun.
This is a relatively short journey, but in its short distance provides some truly spectacular views, first over the Poulaphouca Reservoir and then into the very heartland of wildest Wicklow, towards Duff Hill and Mullaghcleevaun.
Don't attempt it in winter - choose one of the bright, clear spring days we're experiencing at the moment and you'll be rewarded with some of the views that make Wicklow so special.